Display mechanism



E. F. VAN VEC'HTEN.

DISPLAY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I0. 1920.

izo v Cow MK2 E. F. VAN VECHTEN.

DISPLAY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I0.\I92o.

Patena Dec. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- LYRQIIU e NH 'QN I ,H EN .UNI QN #NI QN -u I Iliff/IJ IIIIVIIIIIIMWiIIIIlIIII||IL VIII/liv I IIlIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I IMWIIAII II IM IIII I I Ivcverc- E. F. VAN vEcHTEN.

DISPLAY MECHANISM.

APILICATION FILED JAN. l0. 1920.y

1,401,379 y APatented Dee. 27, 1921 3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES EDWIN F. VAN VECHTEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

DISPLAY MECHANISM.

l ,4wd-179.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Application led January 10, 1920. Serial No. 350,537.

l o all fio/0m z't may concern, y

Be it known that I, EnwiN F. VAN Vnoi-rrnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display Meclr anisins, of which the .following is a speccation.

My invention relatesto improvements in display mechanisms, with particular reference to that class of mechanisms in which a series of signs, symbols, or samples, are intermittingly or successively exposed to view for advertising purposes.

The objects of my invention are to provide means whereb` a series of sets of overlapping signs, or a vertisenient carriers may be advanced and displayed in a predeter-A mined sequence, by a single actuator,-to provide means whereby each sign or carrier will he advanced from one set or group to the next when moved from display position, and in so doing will expose another sign which was previously concealed in such position, to provide for the advancement of each sign or carrier step by st-ep along an endless line of travel, whereby each may he successively displayed in different positions and finally returned to the original starting point, and to provide means whereby a continuously operatingr rotary motor, may actun ate a carrier engaging member step by step, and adjust such member at regular intervals to release an advanced sign or carrier at the rear side of a set or group, and subsequently readj ust it in an advanced position to engage the nent one to be advanced from that set or group, c., the foremost one of the set.

il. further object of my invention is to provi de iin prov ed means for utilizing high speed motors suoli as electric or internal combustion motors, to develop relatively slow intermittent movements iii a ratchet mechanism, which in turn. adapttal to move the signs or sign carriers with the desired speed, and allow them to remain at rest for a ianisiderable interval while othe are being advanced and displayed at different points or stations along the line of travel. llurtliei my object includes the provision of means for sulfiporting cardboard or otherl flexible signs in an upright position, and providing them with supporting members which also facilitate their manilnilation or advancement.

In the drawings Figure l is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of an advertising mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig.n2 is a plan view of the same, partly 1nl horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of al fragment of the ratchet wheel and its actuating dog.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modified form of construction.

F lig. 5 is a plan view partly in horizontal section, of the form of construction shown in Fig. 4.

v Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragment of the same in horizontal section.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a third form of construction showing my invention adapted for displaying signs in horizontal positions.

Fig. 8 is a 'fi'.ignientary view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragment in section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In Figs. l and 2 the signs or sign carriers are advanced along a circular path. Each comprises a sheet l of flexible material such as cardboard, provided along its front margin with a relatively thick rigid member or post 2. Its upper and lower margins run between guide strips 5 and 6, 7 and 8 respectively, and its lower margin also travels along. the surface of a supporting ring or platform S). The posts 2 `are preferably secured to the .inner faces of the sheets along their front margins and the guide strips are so spaced as to allow the sheets to be nested between them in sets, with their associated posts in contact in a series of sets or groups A, B, C, I) and Il Vertical walls l0 connect the outer top and bottoni guide strips 5 and 7 opposite the sets or groups of posts and not only rein force and support the structure of the frame formed by' them and the guide strips, but conceal the posts, and the margins of the sheets from view. The guide strips 6 are supported by cap .ring or meiiibei' l2.

The inner face of each post or har 2 is provided with a notch or recess l/l; which extends obliquely from its inner to its front .zo to allow an antuatiiig hook l5 to engage the rear fato o t the next bar to advance the latter and its associated sheet l as hereinafter (inscribed. The shank of this hook is pivoted at 17 to the outer end of an arm 18 which is rigidly connected with a ratchet wheel 20, disposed to evolve step by step in a horizontal plane about an axis at the center of the circular path along which the sheets 1 are guided. A spring 22 tends to swine the hook 15 outwardly into position tor engagement in one or the notches 14. But an arcuate guide 25 is disposed in a position to engage a roller 26 carried by the hook shank and retract the hoolr as soon as it advances an engaged bar 2 to the group position trom the rear side, including the advancement oi the entire group the width ot' one bar, and the hook is then held in retracted position until it has been advanced into position ter engagement with the trent bar of the group, whereupon the roller 26 clears the front end or the guide 25 and spring 22 then causes the hook to engage such bar. A swinging movement ci the arm 18 may then beutilized to advance the bar and its assoeiated sheet 1 to the next group e. g. from group A to group B.'

1n order to promote the accurate positioning of the posts 2 and to prevent possible momentum effects when one carrier is advancedto the next group, l preferably provide the springs 27 which may be mounted upon the guide bloclfs or cams 25, in the position shown in Fig. 2. The shape and location of spring 27 is such that the bent end or' each spring normally rests against the most advanced post in each series. When another carrier is added to the rear of the series, each post therein is moved forward the width et one post. Spring 27 is displaced by this movement and bears firmly against the foremost post, bringing it to a stop as soon as the actuating hook is withdrawn, and holding it in place where it will be engaged by said hook as soon as the roller 26 clears the cam block 25.

Power to actuate ratchet wheel 2O and arm 18 may be derived from any suitable source such as an electric motor 30. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the motor sha-tt fj. transmits motion to the ratchet wheel 20 through the worm 32, worm wheel E3, shaft Si, worm 35, worm wheel 3G, crank pin thereon, connecting rod 38, swinging arm 39, and dog rl`he arm 39 is pivoted to the shaft of ratchet wheel 20, or otherwise supported to oscillate about its axis. The ratchet wheel 20 has notches fil in its under surface in which the weighted dog 4:0 is adapted to engage, the weight 42 being adapted to hold the working end yielding against the under surface et the wheel. T he arrangement is suoli that each stroke or" the arm 39 will swing arm 18 through a suiiicient are to carry hook 15 from a position ot engagement with one bar 2 into engagement with the one atthe opposite end of the set or group and to then advance the newly engaged bar into contact with the rear bar in the next set or group.

rlhe advancement of the newly engaged bar as last above described, carries the exposed sheet 1 associated with it back ol the next group of sheets and therefore conceals it while exposing the next sign or sheet in the group trom which it was taken. This is accomplished Jfor the reason that each snecessive sign or sheet 1 from the iront ot any given group is disposed at the inner side ot the one which precedes it and therefore the removal of the foremost bar, taires with it the outermost sheet.

I preferably inclose the carriers (sheets 1) and their associated bars 2 within an annular transparent wall 15 secured to the inner faces of the rings 5 and 7 and to the inner faces oi the opaque wall members 10. l also preferably employ guide members G and S oi' relatively thin material and notch or niortise the ends of the bars 2 to receive the inargins ot these guide rings G and S as clearly shown at the left hand in Fig. 1.

I also preferably extend the pivot shai't 17 vertically and provide the same with a plurality et hooks 15, each adapted to engage the saine bar 2, the bars having a plurality or notches 14 at diierent elevations whereby the engagedl ar may be pushed 'lorwardly under pressure exerted near its top and bottom ends or above and below its cenA ter. Vhere a plurality ot hooks 15 are eine ployed, their Shanks are preferably connected by a vertical rod 4G which, Vwith the pivot post or shaft 17, connects up the hooks in such a manner as to form a substantially rigid truss whereby the sha'iit 17 may be inaintained in a vertical position when supported in an elongated bearing L7 carried by the arm 1S.

It will be understood from the above description and the accompanying illustration in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that a large .number ot signs, symbols, or articles to be displayed may be mounted or printed upon the sheets 1 and arranged in groups ol overlapping sheets or carriers from which group the display portions of the carriers may be exposed successively through the transparent portion oi the wall a5, associated with such group by the withdrawal ot the outermost carrier. Also that when a carrier is withdrawn lfroin any given group, itv becomes the innermost carrier of the succeeding group and will be subsequently displayed through the transparent portion of the wall i5 pertaining to that group, after the preceeino carriers of that group have been succ ively witlidrawn. Therefore, each carri u may evcntu ally be displayed successively in connection with each and every group oi the series.

By making the carrier sheets oll such length that at least one sheet (the one pertaining to the rearmost carrier in a group) 'will ovcrllU l il() lap the bar of the foremost carrier of the next group to the rear, it is obvious that when my carrier is advanced it willnecessarily be guided along the inner side or face of the next group of sheets, vno additional mechanism being required to accomplish this result. The terms front and rear7 are employed with reference to the line or direction-of advancement on the assumption that the movement is a forward movement.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 it will be observed that the modification illustrated therein embodies the same general features as those above described and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but that instead of following a circular path, the carriers are advanced along a line or path defined by the endless chains extending over sprocket wheels 51 and 52at the respective ends of the structure. The structure disclosed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is so closely analogous to that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the same reference characters are applied to the corre spending parts with the reference letter a added for the purpose of distinction. Detailed description will, therefore, be unnec essary except to call attention to the following features, viz: p

The hooks 15 are pivoted to the respective chains 50 at 17 and the rollers 26 are carried on inwardly projecting arms 55 whereby the rollers are oil'set inwardly for engagement with guides 25 which are also offset inwardly out of the paths of the chains 50. And in view oi' the fact that there are two chains 50, one near the top and the other near the bottom of the structure, the hooks 15 may be independently connected with the `respective chains, thereby dispensing with the elongated vertical shaft 17 and rod 46 disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. The pivot pin 17 is therefore merely a short pin and may constitute an elongated pintle serving to connect the chain links.

The motion transmitting connections be tween the motor and the driving sprocket wheels 51 are also somewhat different Jfrom those between the motor and the ratchet wheel 20 in Figs. 1 and 2. The motor 30 transmits motion to the driving sprocket wheel51` through the motor shaft 3.1, worm 32a, worm wheel 33, crank 37, connecting rod 38, swinging arm 39, dog 40, ratchet wheel 56 and driving shaft 57 connected with the respective sprocket wheels 51. The result is quite similar to that above described (Figs. 1 and 2) each swinging movement of the arm 39 being adapted to rotate the ratchet wheel one step and thereby move the sprocket chains a distance suflicient to advance one carrier from a group or station to the next group or station, this operation being' subsequently repeated Ator su@ cessive groups throughout the series, each' group also moving forwardly as described.

It is obvious that my invention can be thus applied, wherever space will permit, to display a series oi' signs or display carriers along a straight or substantially straight line simultaneously each sign or exhibit being exposed for alength oi2 time equal to that required i'or shifting the other exposed signs, aiter which it moves to a place of con` cealment for a considerably longer period while other signs which were previously concealed are being exposed. The period of exposure may be shortenedand the advance ment oi the signs or display carriers may be accelerated by providing the chains with additional hooks 15. Where two sets oif hooks 15 and 15 are employed two of the display carriers will be advanced :trom cach group during one revolution of the eonveyer composed ot the set of chains and hooks.

Referring to the modification disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, it will be observed that I have again used the same reference char acters for the corresponding parts with the letter t added for the purpose of distinction,

but in this form of construction, the display carriers are horizontally disposed upon, a platform 9b having an annular opening spanned by the bars 2l and the sheets 1b which compose the carriers. lThe bars 2l are disposed radially and the carriers. travel in a circular path.

The motor 30h is mounted on a carriage 60 having an inner wheel 61 and outer rollers (32 and 63, the latter being adapted to follow a raised circular track 64 to which they are held by the roller ianges 65. An endless cable 66 extends along the annular groove 67 :formed in the outer wall of the track, and this cable extends about a pulley G8 carried by a vertical sli-att G9 supported in suitable bearings connected with the carriage (30. The motor shaft 31 actuates the shaft G9 through the worm 32" and worin wheel 53 and as the shalt 69 revolves the cable contiiiuously winds upon and unwinds from the pulley, thereby propelling the carriage and the motor along the track. v

A bracket 72 is connected with the top oit the motor casing or frame and an oscillatory shaft 731i journaled in the bracket arms, is provided with hooks l5" which are adapted to engage the bars 2l in 'the notches 14H to actuate the ioreinost bar of each group, and deliver it to the next group in the same manner as above described with relerence to Figs. 1 and Q except that the bars 2l are radially disposed in a horizontal plane and the sheets 1b are also horizontally disposed with their margins and portions oif the ends oif the bars 2l resting in annular notches or run- I ways formed in the outer and inner walls 7 5 and 7G between which the motor travels. The shanks ot the outer hooks 15b are provided with arms or projections which carry rollers 26h in positions for engagement with Sii guide strips 25b Which retract the hooks,

`after an engaged bar 2b has been advanced from one group to the next and the receiving group advanced to a position Where the hooks may be permitted to engage the foremost bar thereof for advancement to the third group. The guides 25b retract the hooks against the tension of springs 22", the entire principle of operation, so far as the engagement and advancement of the signs or sign carriers is concerned, being similar to that in both of the forms of construction above described.

78 are brushes to electrically connect the motors With circular conducting rails or Wires housed Within the track 64.

From the above description and the three forms ol construction illustrated, it Will be apparent that my invention is not dependent for successful operation upon the use o1c any specic power transmitting or supplying mechanism nor upon any specific position of the sign or carrier, nor line of its advancement. t is suiiicient for my purposes to provide means i'or grouping the signs or sign carriers in overlappino` relation and then provide means for successively advancing them so as to uncover them successively. But it is a ver'7 important feature of my invention to provide successive groups, and to advance the signs or carriers in such a manner that the advancing member or its actuator will also advance the receiving group a distance sufi icient to maintain the position of the group, and present the foremost member thereof in a position to be engaged and advanced.

I claiml. Display mechanism including a drum provided with a plurality of display openings, a group of carriers associated with each opening, display cards having their forward ends secured to the carriers, means for guiding said carriers circuitously about the drum, and means moving from group to group for selectively actuating certain carriers, said cards being guided by overlapping carriers.

2. Display mechanism including a drum provided With a plurality of display Windows in its periphery, groups of carriers associated with each Window, a track adapted to guide the carriers in a peripheral path, and display cards secured to the carriers, each card being overlapped by succeeding cards and carriers.

3. Display mechanism including an apertured casing, a circuitous track therein, carriers upon the track and associated in groups with each aperture, an actuator adapted to engage successively the foremost carrier in each group and add it to the rear of the next, and display cards mounted upon each carrierv and adapted to be displayed by the foremost carrier in each group, succeeding carriers being adapted to guide preeinling cards.

4. Display mechanism 'including an apela tured case, a circuitous track therein, earriers associated in groups 'with each aperture and mounted upon the trucs iler guiil ance thereby, cards mounted upon ille wir riers and disposed in wei-lapping si eefsion along the Wall oi the ease one card el' cach group being displayed through euch aperture, and an actuator adapted o on gage successively the niost advanced er# rior or each oil tlc seveal groups und :nld it to the rear of the n Display mechanism including a cuitous track, carriers mounted upon, track and grouped at predetermined peins thereon, a uni-directional actuator .:iapiei to the foremost carrier olf each group and add it to the rear olf' the next, and a resilient stop adapted to engage the i'oremost carrier of cach group.

6. Display mechanism 'including a wirA cuitous track, carriers grouped at prode termined points 'thercoin a resilient i adapted to engage the foremost ezu'ricr each group, a imi-directional actuel adapted to pass lthe several carriers olf' nach group and engage the 'oremos Vcarrier and add it to the rear o? the n t, thereiny uil- Vancing said next grou) e thiol-nefsy ol one carrier whereby the rcniest carrier of said last-named group is moved, pesi saiu stop into the path ot the actuator.

7. Display mechanism including cari-im; adapted to 'travel in a circuiuous pathaud disposed in groups or eren si/.e at profila termined points thereon, an arluai'or opel ative to move the carriers :mout said puh. means iler retracting said actuator i the pa 'h o1 the carriers to pass o ver a ,ij' A oi" normal size, and a single extra can". upon said path adapted 'when ai il to rear of a group to advance said rui; si iieiently to bring the i" i n' {howof into the path ot :l act alici-Mq.' each group in turn will. become momentarily larger than the others.

8. Display mechanism including un aportured drum, carriers disposed in groups hefore each aperture, guides upon which the carriers are adapted to more in proximity to the periphery of the drinn, o\u\rlzzppinf f display cards fastened to the carriers and each confined by succeeding carriers Within the space between the guide und the drum, and a uni-directional actuator adapte ed to move from group to group iu operative relation to said carriers. i

9. Display mechanism includingl` :i puni 1` ber of groups oi overlapi ug displa;v cerriers successively projected one beyond auother at their 'front niazgfns, means vFor engaging the front margin et the most advanced member or a group, withdrawing lll (l it therefrom, and adding it to the next group, the addition of a new member to a group being adapted to move the entire grou .i slightly whereby the most advanced mem er therein is forced to the position for removal.

10. Display mechanism including agroup of overlapping display carriers, each corn-n prising a sheet provided with a projection and arranged with the sheets successively advanced and with the projections correspondingly grouped, and an actuator continuously moving in one direction relative to said sheets and adapted to engage the projections successivelyY and to withdraw the sheets in succession.

ll. Display mechanism including a plurality of display carriers disposed in groups ars in contact, and an actuator adapted to remove the bars successively from the group to withdraw the sheets, and means for utilizing the actuator to add a `carrier to the group previous to each withdrawal, and to advance the group a distance equal to the thickness of the withdrawn bar.

13. Display mechanism comprising the combination of a series of groups of overlapping display carriers, each comprising a display sheet having a bar along its front margin and arranged with the bars in series along a line of carrier advancement,` and an actuator adapted to engage the foremost bar and advance it to the next group and to utilize such bar to advance the next group a distance equal to its own thickness.`

14. Display mechanism comprising the combination of a series of groups of overlapping display carriers, each comprising a display sheet having a bar along its front margin and arranged with the bars in series along a line of carrier advancement, and an actuator adapted to engage the foremost bar and advance it to the next group and to utilize such bar to advance the next group a distance equal to its own thickness, means for retracting the actuator to allow it to travel across the group to a position for engagement with the front bar thereof, said actuator being adapted to advance the engaged bars successively from one group to the next.

15. Display mechanism comprising the combination of a series of groups of overlapping display carriers, each comprising a display sheet having a bar along its front margin and arranged with the bars in series along a line of carrier advancement, and an actuator adapted to engage the foremost bar` and advance it to the next group and to utilize such bar to advance the next group a dist-ance equal to its own thickness, means for retracting the actuator to allow it to travel across the group to a position for engagement with the front bar thereof, said actuatorxbeing adapted to advance the engaged bars successively from one group to the next, and to eventually return them to their original positions.

16. Display mechanism including a set of overlapping carriers with their front edges successively advanced, the foremost carrier being in display position; and an actuator adapted to add periodically one carrier to the group and to pass over the intervening carriers to engagement with the foremost.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN F. VAN VECHTEN.

Witnesses:

0. C. WEBER, A. J. MCKERIHAN. 

